3 Suggestions for Fathers in Leading Their Families

I hope you are having a wonderful time today celebrating the joy of being a dad.

No matter what else the Lord has called you to as a man, you are called to lead your family first. Do you take that seriously?

You know, fathers carry a heavy responsibility from the Lord: the calling to lead their families and to disciple their children. It’s a joyous responsibility, but it’s one that needs to be taken very seriously. No matter what else the Lord has called you to as a man, you are called to lead your family first. Do you take that seriously? Really stop and take a moment to think about the spiritual “climate” in your home and what you are doing on a daily basis to ensure your family is being led in Christ as they should be.

If you’re looking for some encouragement in leading your family or you don’t know where to start, here are three suggestions I have for you:

1. Read the Bible with your children every day. Make opening the Scriptures together a priority. This doesn’t have to take long or be elaborate. Simply open God’s Word, read a passage, and discuss it (and if you’re not sure where to start with discussing Scripture, consider asking a simple series of questions such as “Where is God in this passage?,” “Where is man in this passage?,” and “What should we do in light of what God says here?”). Another option is to choose a biblically sound devotional or apologetic book to read together (feel free to mix it up, but the actual Scriptures should always be the focus). Answers in Genesis has a big range of such apologetic books for all ages available on our webstore, AnswersBookstore.com.
2. Prioritize church attendance. I’ve never been able to attend our home church as consistently as others—I’ve been gone many weekends for speaking engagements for 50 years of my life! But when I was away during those years when we had young children at home, my wife, Mally, always made sure the family went to church, explaining to the kids that since Dad was away, she would step into that role and take them. For the weekends I was home, I always prioritized taking them to church. I wanted the kids to see how important it is that we are in fellowship with other Christians, learning from God’s Word.
3. Serve together. My mum drilled into me: “God first. Others second. Yourself last.” Do you lead your family that way? And do they see it in the way you serve them and others? We’re naturally born selfish, thinking of ourselves first, so serving together as a family is a great way to cultivate selflessness and a heart that puts Jesus and others first. Look for ways to serve your church or your community together.

Whatever stage of fatherhood you are in, I pray you take your responsibility both seriously and joyfully. God has given you a high calling, and it’s a privilege to get to serve him and your family in this way—as a father, your role is vital to the spiritual health of your family, your church, and, by extension, your community and nation.

Happy Father’s Day!

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.